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The Most Stolen Cars in Philly [Infographic]

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a vehicle is stolen every 45 seconds. The question is, could the car you drive affect your chances of having your car stolen?

According to the Bureau’s Hot Wheels report, it could. The Bureau recently released its annual report and found that the most nationally stolen car was the Honda Accord, with almost 54,000 total thefts in 2013.

The Bureau released lists for each state, and the following infographic depicts the most stolen cars in Pennsylvania.

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Please note that this infographic covers all of PA, but Philly experiences the highest level of vehicle theft. In fact, according to watchyourcar.org, the theft rate in Philadelphia is 6 times more than the state’s theft rate.

Here in Delaware County in 2013, 690 of 401,714 registered vehicles were reported stolen.

Tips for Keeping Your Car Safe

Having your car stolen is far from fun, and taking a few extra precautions could help you.

1) Use common sense. Lock your car and take your keys with you. Close your windows and park in a well-lit area. Even if you’ll just be gone for a few minutes, don’t take any chances.

2) Use a warning device. Most cars come with a visible or audible device that warns of thieves. This may include audible alarms, brake locks, wheel locks, theft deterrent decals, and more.

3) Use an immobilizing device. Many new cars have a device which prevents thieve from bypassing your ignition and hot-wiring your vehicle. These devices may come in the form of smart keys, kill switches, starter disablers, wireless authentication, and more.

4) Use a tracking device. A tracking device can emit a signal directly to police or a monitoring station when the vehicle is stolen. This is a very effective way to help authorities recover stolen vehicles.

Have you had any experiences having your car stolen? What tips can you share with others?